“Yeah. But I can’t tell you what she said, so don’t ask. We’re not allowed to share what we heard in the meeting.”
“How convenient for you.”
I wasn’t sure why that had made her angrier, so I apologized again. “I’m sorry. For everything. I had no idea it would upset you like this, and I’m truly sorry. But I have to say, you have a great kid. She’s special.”
“Special how?” Now the eyes were narrowed, reminding me of a snake before it strikes.
I backed further away, stumbling into Poe, my overly-fed, giant orange cat, who had apparently been sleeping behind me. Well, he wasn’t really mine. He belonged to the shop, having taken it upon himself to invite himself to live here back when my mother was alive. Now he acted as if he were the one paying the rent every month.
Poe meowed and shot me a dirty look akin to the one Delphine currently had fixed upon me and jumped onto the desk. Poe was a nuisance, but the cat had game. I was amazed how easily he could jump onto surfaces that I would have thought too high. He often reminded me of Tigger, only grumpy and judgmental instead of joyful. Poe looked around at the tidy desk, then curled into a ball to watch the show with his head resting on his front white paws. Right on top of the book that had caused so much fuss. Not that he fit exactly. There was some overspill. It wasn’t a hardcover, which meant the entire book was now hidden under his generous girth.
“She’s more mature than I would think most kids that age would be,” I said quickly. “Obviously very emotionally intelligent. And courageous to be seeking help.”
“I had her in therapy, you know. After it happened.”
“Oh, okay.” I had no idea what to say to that.
“I’m a good mother.”
“No one said otherwise.”
Just like that, she deflated. It was like watching a human-shaped balloon letting out ten percent of its air. “Well, I feel like I am.”
“You are. Of course you are. Your daughter wouldn’t be so wonderful if it wasn’t for you. Raising her on your own can’t be easy.”
“It’s fine. I don’t need anyone’s help.”
“I was raised by a single mother. She said it was lonely at times, not having anyone to share the responsibilities with. She said the hardest part was not having anyone who loved me as much as she did. No one to share her pride about whatever it was I’d done that day.”
“Yes, well, that is difficult.” She sniffed and lifted one shoulder. “But I have my girlfriends. We’ve practically raised these kids together.”
“Right. Sure. I know how close you all are. It’s really nice, actually.”
She set her bag down by her feet as if realizing she’d been holding it tightly against her chest and now wanted to give the impression of someone loose and relaxed. Which she definitely was not.
Poe rose up from the book and stretched, then hopped lightly from the desk to land in front of her bag. He then proceeded to nose his way in, nudging it open before crawling inside. He got himself situated, making the leather bag look like some kindof man-made creature no one wanted to mess with. Finally, he plopped down with just his tail hanging out one end.
“That’s a big bag,” I said. I’m not sure why.
Delphine looked like she was about to say something defensive but instead started laughing. “Poe’s making himself right at home in my three-hundred dollar bag.”
“Three-hundred?”
She shook her head, gesturing like a traffic cop. “No. You do not get to comment on how I spend my money.”
“I wouldn’t think of it.” I scrambled to think of a way to get her back on the cat and not me. “Poe’s not good for business. The other day he came running toward me with a dead mouse in his mouth. I was in the children’s section, helping someone find a book. There were several kids in there, reading on the floor. They took one look at the mouse and started screaming. Their mothers came running over to see what was wrong, took a look at the mouse now lying at my feet, and grabbed their child’s hand. I heard one of them say to the other as they walked out the door about old buildings and rat infestations. They’re probably going to order books online from now on.”
“That’s awful.” But she laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Poe does help with the mice. I’ll give him that. I just don’t know why he finds it necessary to bring them to me.”
“Did he just show up here one day?” Delphine asked, sounding genuinely curious.
“Yes. My mother was still alive then. She said he simply walked in one day and refused to walk out. She was a softie, so soon enough he had his own bed, a kitty condo in the office, and wet food every morning. When she passed away, she left specific instructions that I was to keep Poe in the manner to which he’d grown accustomed.”
“He does seem to be enjoying his food,” Delphine said. “He’s bigger than the last time I saw him.”
“I need to take him to the vet for a checkup, but I’m afraid of what they’ll say. I mean, how do you put Poe on a diet? He will not be happy, and an unhappy Poe is a frightening thought.”
